Elco Restaurant, Hill Road, Bandra, Mumbai

**** Rated

Fascinating, Fun and Frequent these three words spring to my mind as soon as I recall my visits to Elco, the bustling Fast Food Restaurant located on Hill Road, Bandra. Like me, if you are one of those people who prefer a quiet dining place with impeccable service of the choicest food, then you need to brace yourself for the chaotic entry itself. 

Obviously, one cannot and ought not to expect fine dining experience at the most popular Fast Food place in Mumbai. So, I was prepared to see people milling about and waiting. However, I was dumbstruck at the sheer number of people awaiting their turn and name to be called out to go up to the two storeyed restaurant. A bigger number crowded about the footpath hungrily downing the delicious looking paani puris, sipping in the fresh fruit juices, milkshakes and the like even as the staff churned out one delicacy after another at an alarming speed and dexterity. It is a typical India and a Mumbai experience, wherein any chaat loving patron would want to experience the Chaat churned out at Elco. 

After a 15 minute wait me and my friend finally heaved a sigh of relief at being called up to go into the restaurant, but it was a challenge to wade through the hungry patrons and the busy staff who were constantly on the move. As  soon as we hiked up the narrow, winding staircase to the air conditioned first floor restaurant, we heaved a sigh of relief at the prevailing peace and space in the restaurant.  

Sifting through the much thumbed menu, we were certain about our favourite:  Paani Puri! As we walked up to the first floor I had noticed the "baskets" that were carefully stacked up in the kitchen and we enquired the waiter about their basket chaat. He recommended everything on the menu and agreed that we ought to try the tokri or the basket chaat as well as the famous bhelpuri seasoned with Kachchi Keri. Alongwith this I also asked for a 'cocktail' juice made of Mosambi and Pineapple. 

Needless to say, we loved each and every morsel of each of the items we ordered. Paani Puri had the apt filling, flavour and crunchiness and the generously stuffed Basket Chaat was a harmonious blend of sweet, spicy and tangy taste tempred ably by curd. Even the basket was delightful to cut and crunchy to eat despite the curd filling. Having the Bhelpuri here truly made is feel that we were having this ubiquitous dish for the first time ever! It was perfect in its taste, appearance and quantity. The unique cocktail serve d in a beer mug surely found favour with me. The taste of the Mosambi was more overpowering than that of the pineapple but it was certainly cool and refreshing. 

The one area of improvement is that of service. Considering Elco is bursting at its seams with patrons, the waiters need to be more quick and attentive in their service. They seem to huddle together and ignore the customers and one has to really try hard to get their attention to either place the order or to get the bill. 

So, Elco is truly deserving of all the fame as far as its Chaat goes and we look forward to trying out all their dishes on the menu in our subsequent visits. Braving the chaos on the road outside Elco and its noisy thronging patrons is a small price to pay considering the charming chaat they serve!! 

Paani Puri

Elco @Work!

A G K